Monthly Newsletter - October 2025
- AISB News
- 16 hours ago
- 11 min read
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Our Director's Update
Dear Parents and Friends,
As we progress through another purposeful term, I am inspired by the commitment, curiosity, and compassion evident across our school. October has been rich in learning, connection, and achievement — thanks to the collective effort of our students, families, and staff.
From our youngest learners at Soi 20 building resilience and emotional awareness, to our Primary students embracing leadership and courage, and our Secondary students preparing for assessments and engaging in meaningful initiatives, our values are truly coming to life.
This term, we celebrated milestones beyond the classroom — World Teachers’ Day, student-led leadership, sustainability projects, community outreach, sporting achievements, and our first international robotics competition in STEAM, highlighting innovation, collaboration, and perseverance.
Attendance remains a shared focus, supporting each child’s growth and sense of belonging. Thank you to our entire community for nurturing confident, thoughtful, and globally-minded learners. As we head into November with concerts, conferences, projects, and field trips, let us continue to champion curiosity, kindness, and resilience.
Together, we are shaping learners who are prepared for challenges and empowered to lead with heart.
Yours in education,
Henri Bemelmans
Director
Early Years Update
Written by Sheridan Musto, Head of Early Years and Soi 20 Campus
As we move into the second half of the term, our Soi 20 Early Years community continues to shine with creativity, teamwork, and care. Across classrooms, outdoor spaces, and events, children are building resilience, showing kindness, and embracing our AISB values in meaningful ways.
Thank you to all teachers, assistants, and staff for your ongoing commitment to creating engaging, supportive environments where our youngest learners truly thrive.
Spirit of AISB Values Challenge: Respect
This month, our Foundation and Year 1 students participated in the second Spirit of AISB Values Challenge, joined by our Blue Wren friends from the 313 Campus. The focus was on Respect — for ourselves, for others, and for our environment.
Students collaborated through games that reminded us how respect is expressed through listening, kindness, and teamwork. It was wonderful to see enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and connection between our Soi 20 and Soi 31 campuses.
World Teachers’ Day
We celebrated World Teachers’ Day with a special afternoon tea and pizza party to show our appreciation for the incredible dedication of our Early Years and Lower Primary staff. While one day can’t capture the full extent of our gratitude, it was a lovely reminder that every day, our teachers make an extraordinary difference through their patience, creativity, and care.
Sustainability in Action: Paper-Free Progress
Our recent Paper-Free Day was a great success! Classrooms explored digital tools and creative alternatives to traditional worksheets. We’re also expanding our sustainability practices:
Introducing plastic recycling bins around campus.
Increasing the number of paper recycling bins, 1 for every classroom.
Coordinating with our Secondary Campus to ensure recyclable materials are properly processed — not mixed with mainstream waste.
Encouraging the use of recycled materials in creative classroom projects.
These small, consistent actions are helping children understand the impact of their choices and build sustainable habits from the earliest years.
Kimochis in Foundation
Our Foundation classes have begun implementing the Kimochis program, an exciting step in strengthening our social–emotional learning focus. Kimochis helps children identify, name, and manage their emotions, providing a natural bridge from our PreK2 program into the early primary years.
It also connects beautifully with BounceBack and our Restorative Justice approach to behaviour guidance — supporting children to express their feelings, repair relationships, and make positive choices. Teachers are working closely with Ms Shelby, our Kimochis Coordinator, to embed the program through stories, puppets, and daily routines.
Fire Evacuation Drill
This month we held our first fire evacuation drill of the year, and both children and staff responded exceptionally well. These exercises are an important part of our safety education, helping children practise calm, quick, and coordinated action during emergencies.
Teachers have also been reinforcing these lessons in class, connecting them to home safety discussions. Later in the year, we’ll conduct lockdown and earthquake drills to continue building awareness and confidence across all year levels.
As we look toward November, our focus turns to preparation for the Mid-Year Concert, ongoing wellbeing initiatives, and our continued sustainability goals. Thank you to everyone for the teamwork, creativity, and positivity that make Soi 20 such a vibrant learning community. Together, we’re helping children grow as confident, curious, and caring learners — ready to take on new challenges with joy and resilience.
We are deeply proud of our students and thankful for the strong partnership we share with you—together, we’re building a joyful, safe, and purposeful start to school life.
Primary Update
Written by Hannah Carew, Head of Primary
October Highlights at AISB
During October AISB Primary have enjoyed a wide range of engaging learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Students are now well settled into their daily routines and continuing to make great progress along their learning journey with their peers and friends.
Alongside their academic growth, students have also been developing important social and emotional learning skills through class discussions, collaborative activities, and the Bounce Back program. These experiences help students build resilience, show empathy, strengthen friendships, and develop a positive mindset, essential skills that support both their wellbeing and success as lifelong learners.
Earlier this month, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day, taking the time to recognise the wonderful work of our teachers and teaching assistants who ensure every child is engaged, supported, and enjoying their time at school. We sincerely thank them for their ongoing commitment to AISB students and the many opportunities they provide for learning and growth.
Teachers Day celebration: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16ZD2AxhJF/
We also officially welcomed our new Primary Student Council during a formal investiture ceremony. We are excited to see the leadership, initiative, and creativity they will bring to our school community. The Student Council is already planning to extend their leadership beyond the campus by organising Bangkok Community Help Foundation charity drive, more details will be shared in the coming weeks.
Student Council Investiture Ceremony: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DDWEEDzYc/
In November, Years 4, 5, and 6 will embark on their field trips: Year 4 and 6 to Nakhon Nayok and Year 5 to Phetchaburi, where they will take part in unforgettable experiences that promote teamwork, independence, and personal growth.
Next term, all parents will have the opportunity to participate in Student-Led Conferences, where students will guide their parents through conversations about their learning and achievements from Semester 1. This is a wonderful chance for students to take greater ownership of their learning and celebrate their successes.
We are looking forward to an exciting November filled with rich learning experiences and plenty of opportunities for students to enjoy time with their friends at school.
October Bounce Back Focus: Courage
This month in the Bounce Back! program, students are learning about courage, the ability to face fears and challenges without being overwhelmed by them. Fear is a natural response that helps keep us safe, but courage helps us take positive action even when we feel nervous or uncertain.
Through class discussions and activities, students are exploring what it means to show everyday courage, such as trying something new, speaking up for a friend, or tackling a difficult task and how this builds confidence and resilience. Parents can support this learning by talking with their child about times they have felt scared and how they found the courage to keep going, helping children understand that bravery grows with every challenge they face.
October AISB Value Focus: Personal Best
This month, our community is focusing on the value of Personal Best. At AISB, Personal Best means fostering a sense of belonging and school spirit while striving for growth and excellence.
We encourage students to embrace:
Resilience and Perseverance – staying determined and bouncing back from challenges.
Confidence – adopting a growth mindset and learning from mistakes.
Passion – approaching learning with enthusiasm and dedication.
Recognition and Celebration – appreciating achievements—our own and others’.
Improvement and Advancement – striving for continuous progress.
Goal Setting – setting challenging but achievable goals to unlock potential.
Stay Connected
As always, we encourage families to stay connected by checking the school calendar regularly and reading your child’s homeroom teacher’s newsletter every Friday. These updates are a great way to stay informed about the exciting learning and events happening in the classroom and across the school.
Secondary Update
Written by Michael Bryce, Head of Secondary
Welcome back to another term.
Firstly, a remind for parents of years 7 to 10 the mid-year exams commence late November. Years 7 to 9 the exams will be held in classrooms. The Year 10 Mock exams will be held in a formal Cambridge arrangement in the hall.
Subject selections for Year 8 to IGCSE and Year 10 to A levels were held November 4th. Students need to return their selection form by the end of November. If any parent wants specific information please contact the teacher/s involved.
The IGCSE and A level retakes have concluded and by tall reports the students are very happy with the papers. Results will be out by Christmas.
Awards assembly for this term. The School Value focus is Respect. However, the aspect of Respect staff will be looking for this term is “Kindness”. Kindness is a is an fundamental aspect of our school life.
Cyber Bullying is an ongoing society issue. I am asking all parents to be aware of the potential for your child/children to be involved. They can either be a victim or part of a group where the bullying is happening. Many groups start out friendly but often can quickly go the other way. Please check in with your child. It is ok to take and check their phones and computer as a way of monitoring their safety.
An update from the Student Council in regards to events taking place.
The student council have announced changes to their events schedule, out of respect to the Passing of the Queen Mother, Queen Sirikit.
The Halloween Dance has been postponed for now. A new date has been finalised and it will take place on Thursday the 18th of November. In the meantime, we are still collecting donations for cancer research—please make any contributions if you would like before the 6th of November.
Learners who donate will be able to take part in a dress-up day on the 7th of November and will receive a cancer ribbon badge.
We are also excited to share that preparations for our annual Christmas Box Drive are underway. An email was sent out this morning, and this year we’ll be collaborating with the Primary Student Council on this meaningful initiative.
STEAM Update
Written by Gareth Openshaw
AISB made a spectacular debut this month, competing in our first-ever robotics competition!
The intense ‘Keep on Track’ event, hosted by St Andrews 107, pitted us against 60 top teams from Thailand, Hong Kong, and India across four challenging categories: line tracking, obstacle avoidance, maze navigation, and a thrilling forklift challenge.
Our dedicated team of four Year 8 students - Alis, Yukta (Alexandra), Dhwani, and Karina (Kelly) - worked tirelessly for several weeks to build and code their robot, affectionately known as George, in preparation for the big day.
On competition day, the girls worked excellently together to problem solve, evaluate, and improve the robot and its programming and did an amazing job representing the school.
Their focused perseverance paid off: out of 60 teams, they finished in the Top 10 overall, and absolutely dominated their heat in the exciting forklift challenge!
Congratulations to the team - your outstanding performance was a true reflection of Personal Best, showcasing creative thinking, resilience, and true collaborative spirit throughout the event.
Robotics Competition: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Emd3tp9tH/
Cambridge Global Perspectives at AISB: Nurturing Future Global Citizens
At AISB, we are proud to offer Cambridge Global Perspectives within our Secondary School as part of the Cambridge International curriculum pathway. This innovative programme is designed to prepare students to think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate confidently in a rapidly changing world.
Cambridge Global Perspectives is not a traditional subject, but a transformational framework that challenges learners to explore global issues - such as climate change, migration, and sustainability - through multiple lenses: personal, local, national, and global. It develops essential transferable skills including research, reflection, analysis, communication, and teamwork.
Teaching follows the Critical Path methodology, which guides students through a structured process of deconstruction, reconstruction, reflection, and communication.
Students begin by analysing global topics, questioning perspectives and evaluating evidence, before collaborating on projects that apply learning to real-world contexts. This process nurtures independence, empathy, and intellectual curiosity - qualities essential for lifelong learning and leadership.
Aligned with AISB’s vision to nurture the young leaders of the future the programme supports our school value of Global Outlook and our students understanding their role as a global citizen who has the responsibility to protect and improve our world. Through inquiry and collaboration, students learn not only to debate ideas but to take informed action, developing both academic rigour and moral purpose.
As our learners progress through Global Perspectives, they build the analytical and reflective skills that universities and employers value worldwide, and more importantly, they gain the confidence and compassion to make a meaningful difference in their communities and our shared planet.
Mr Mark Pearce
Deputy Head of Primary & Head of Teaching and Learning
Teaching and Learning Update
The Crucial Role of School Attendance: Maximising Your Child's Potential
Consistent school attendance is essential for your child’s academic, social, and emotional development. Every day in the classroom offers opportunities to engage with new ideas, build skills, and connect with peers. Research shows that teacher quality strongly influences student achievement, but the benefits are only realised when students are present (Hattie, 2009).
Absences, whether due to illness, appointments, or family travel, disrupt learning continuity, leading to gaps in understanding, increased stress, and challenges in maintaining peer relationships. Even small amounts of missed school can accumulate, affecting confidence, skill acquisition, and a sense of belonging. At AISB, our dedicated teachers strive to provide enriching learning experiences, but these are most effective when students are consistently present.
While unavoidable absences happen, prioritising attendance during term time is crucial. Families can support this by scheduling holidays and appointments outside school days, fostering open communication about the value of school, and collaborating with teachers to address any barriers to attendance. Regular attendance not only ensures academic success but also nurtures social, emotional, and life skills essential for future growth.
By valuing each school day, we empower our children to reach their full potential, thrive in their learning environment, and enjoy the connections and opportunities that school provides.
Mr Mark Pearce
Deputy Head of Primary & Head of Teaching and Learning
Reference List:
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). (2019). "Attendance Matters." Retrieved from [aitsl.edu.au](attendance-matters.pdf).
Carroll, H. (2013). "The social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties of primary school children with poor attendance records." Educational Studies, 39(2), 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055 698.2012.717508
Hancock, K. J., Shepherd, C. C. J., Lawrence, D., & Zubrick, S. R. (2013). "Student attendance and educational outcomes: Every day counts." Report for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4956.6728
Hattie, J. (2009). Visible learning: A synthesis of 800+ meta-analyses on achievement. London: Routledge.
Sports and ASA
Maths Wizards at Soi 20
Ms Kim has been busy with the Maths Wizards at Soi 20. They have been busy having fun with numbers and shapes! They completed their Addition Garden by adding colourful ladybirds, caterpillars, snails, bees, and butterflies — even some double-digit butterflies flew in! The children practised adding single-digit numbers, took turns with glue sticks, and worked carefully and safely with scissors.
They also explored 2D shapes, counting sides and corners to colour their adorable robots. They named circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles — and even spotted 2D shapes hiding on the surfaces of 3D solids!
To top it all off, they played Number Bingo, with plenty of excited “BINGO!” shouts and lots of stickers! The Year 1 wizards practised place value by identifying tens and ones, while the Foundation wizards worked on recognising and ordering numbers.
A magical time of maths fun and learning for all the wizards at Soi 20!
Celebrating Success
A huge congratulations to Nessa, from Year 2 Bettongs, on her outstanding achievement in ice hockey.
Nessa recently participated in the Sub Zero Thailand Ice Hockey Tournament 2025 with the Young Ducks in the U8 group, competing against six teams in her age bracket. She was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) — an impressive recognition, especially as the youngest player on the ice, competing against older children. Her determination and skill helped her team secure third place in Division 2.
Her dedication, courage, and passion exemplify the values we celebrate at AISB. We are incredibly proud of Nessa and look forward to seeing her continue to grow, lead, and inspire others both on and off the rink.
That's all for this month!
We hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter. If you have any feedback or news you'd like to share for our next newsletter, please send us an email at enquiries@australianisb.ac.th.
